Businesses lose profit during super boat races

The largest event ever to be held in Englewood was an overwhelming success that pumped millions of dollars into the local economy, according to Charlotte Harbor Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Although, several business owners on Manasota Key said the Super Boat International Grand Prix Race hurt their profits more than anything and they want the race to be held on a different date next year.

The first-time international boat race not only brought tens of thousands of people to Manasota Key, but Charlotte County estimates $8 to $10 million was pumped into the local economy.

"Saturday sales were totally different than if we had not had the boat race," said Nicole Lima, a waitress at White Elephant Pub.

That sounds positive, but the difference in sales actually left local businesses upset and hurting.

"I don't get it! I thought we were going to go out with a bang, but we didn't go out with a bang," Lima said.

If you weren't on the sand, it was a ghost town, said Beach Botique owner Jill Hemmes. Not only did she close up her Jet Ski rental early Sunday, but she lost 75 percent of her usual profit both Saturday and Sunday.

"Literally yesterday, I was the only one sitting outside in my own bistro looking at all my empty tables taking a picture of it going, ‘oh my god this is not right,'" she said.

Just down the road, the staff at White Elephant Pub was twiddling their thumbs when they're usually out of breath.

"It started Thursday and Friday when they closed down the beaches and didn't let anyone park," said Jean Boisbe, manager.

The race was a no-parking event. Businesses said if it was any other weekend, they would have been fine with it. Palm Sunday weekend, according to dozens restaurants and retail shops on Manasota Key, is one of the busiest times of the year and many tourists weren't aware the event was going to be in town.

"A lot of miscommunication with the county itself and a lot of people had no idea what was going on," Boisbe said.

Super Boat International has a three-year contract with Charlotte's super boat organizers. Next year, the event will be held on the same weekend. The planning committee is meeting soon to discuss how to make things run more smoothly next year.